They hung their shields,
after the old fashion, out-board along the gunwale, and a right gay show
they made; and so rowed out of Waterford harbor amid the tears of the
ladies and the cheers of the men.
But, as it befell, the voyage did not prosper. Hereward found his vessels
under-manned, and had to sail northward for fresh hands. He got none in
Dublin, for they were all gone to the Welsh marches to help Earl Alfgar
and King Griffin. So he went on through the Hebrides, intending, of
course, to plunder as he went: but there he got but little booty, and lost
several men. So he went on again to the Orkneys, to try for fresh hands
from the Norse Earl Hereof; but there befell a fresh mishap. They were
followed by a whale, which they made sure was a witch-whale, and boded
more ill luck; and accordingly they were struck by a storm in the Pentland
Frith, and the poor _Garpike_ went on shore on Hoy, and was left
there forever and a day, her crew being hardly saved, and very little of
her cargo.
However, the _Otter_ was now not only manned, but over manned; and
Hereward had to leave a dozen stout fellows in Kirkwall, and sail
southward again, singing cheerily to his men,--
"Lightly the long-snake
Leaps after tempests,
Gayly the sun-gleam
Glows after rain
In labor and daring
Lies luck for all mortals,
Foul winds and foul witch-wives
Fray women alone.
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